TOKYO (Anadolu) - Japan’s Okinawa prefectural assembly called Friday for a “fundamental review” of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement after a US Marine was criminal of a robbery-murder case.
Japan saw protests and widespread outrage after Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan City, was detained for killing Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in the prefectural capital of Naha on Saturday.
The prefectural assembly called for a review of the agreement as Okinawa hosts roughly half of the 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan.
The protest resolution adopted by the assembly called on the U.S. military to take action against Ballard, “to prevent a recurrence,” Kyodo News Agency reported.
It added that the assembly also adopted a statement to the “same effect addressed to the Japanese government.”
“Both documents also call for a fundamental review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement,” said the report.
Ballard was arrested Sunday and has been sent to prosecutors.
The incident triggered protests in Okinawa, formerly under U.S. control from 1945 to 1972, as well as in Tokyo where people sought action against the accused.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has decried the incident, with Tokyo summoning the U.S. ambassador as well as the U.S. forces commander in Okinawa and lodging protests.
The U.S. military in the prefecture imposed a pause in operations for 48 hours since Wednesday and announced a curfew for the next 30 days beginning Friday.
Okinawa has also seen protests in the past after cases of sexual assault by U.S. soldiers came to light.
“Past crimes involving U.S. military personnel, including those against women and girls, have angered residents of Okinawa,” the report said.